If you read these picks regularly, you’ll notice that Austin Dillon is a Bonkers pick at several tracks. I’m certainly pleased that I didn’t put him in that category last week. Late-race cautions can change the entire outcome of a race, and that’s what happened on Sunday. Can it happen again on Thursday?
Here’s my NASCAR fantasy advice guiding you to the Brilliant, Bold, and Bonkers drivers for the Super Start Batteries 400 Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts at Kansas Speedway:
Brilliant – These NASCAR drivers have the best shot at winning in in Kansas
Kevin Harvick
Wins at Kansas: 3
Top 5 finishes: 8
Top 10 finishes: 15
I leave this driver’s name at the top of my list every week. I feel like Kevin Harvick can do no wrong this season because even when he doesn’t take over at the top spot, he’s never too far behind. Do you know how many times he’s finished outside of the top-10 this season? Three. How many times outside of the top-five? Seven. Don’t count out the No. 4 for yet another win this week.
Martin Truex Jr.
Wins at Kansas: 2
Top 5 finishes: 8
Top 10 finishes: 10
Truex started off rough at Kansas in the early days, but once he got the hang of this track, he never looked back. His season has been rocky thus far, but a good track that he knows well can shoot him right back into all-star status on Thursday.
Brad Keselowski
Wins at Kansas: 2
Top 5 finishes: 4
Top 10 finishes: 10
Keselowski has finished outside the top-10 only five times this season. He has made a quiet statement, but I think that the silence will come to an end on Thursday night. Look for the No. 2 to hit the gas hard on Thursday night for a big win at Kansas Speedway.
Bold – These are my NASCAR sleeper picks
Denny Hamlin
Wins at Kansas: 2
Top 5 finishes: 7
Top 10 finishes: 8
If you think that the No. 11 has fallen off the radar in recent weeks, you’d be right. If you think he’s gonna stay off the radar, you’d be crazy. Denny Hamlin won’t stay down for long, and at a night race mid-week on a track that’s treated him well, there’s no telling what will happen. As long as the pits are flawless, the passes are clean, and the car is fine-tuned, expect a comeback from Hamlin this week.
Chase Elliott
Wins at Kansas: 1
Top 5 finishes: 4
Top 10 finishes: 5
Chase Elliott’s season has gotten hotter in recent weeks, winning the All-Star race and a cool million bucks. Kansas is a good track for him—he finished second here at the last outing in October, with a number-one finish in October 2018. Look for Chase to lead a bunch of laps and possibly grab the win on Thursday night.
Tyler Reddick
Wins at Kansas: 0
Top 5 finishes: 0
Top 10 finishes: 1
I’ve been waiting to put some rookies into this category, and I feel that the time has come to do so. Tyler Reddick has been impressive—he has seven top-10 finishes this season so far, with four of them in the last four races. He came in second place at Texas Motor Speedway on Sunday and I expect him to have a great finish on Thursday night. If the stars align just right, you might see Reddick’s first Cup Series win.
Bonkers – Stay away from these NASCAR drivers in your fantasy lineup this week
William Byron
Wins at Kansas: 0
Top 5 finishes: 1
Top 10 finishes: 1
William Byron is still acquiring his footing. Next year, this guy is gonna come out of the gates swinging. But until then, he’s not the best pick for the run at Kansas on Thursday—especially since crew chief Chad Knaus will be sitting this one out due to the birth of his second daughter.
Aric Almirola
Wins at Kansas:
Top 5 finishes:
Top 10 finishes:
The hot streak will sputter to a halt this week at Kansas. But fear not: the No. 10 team will be right back at it shortly. Just take a pass on Aric Almirola for your NASCAR fantasy lineup this week.
Matt DiBenedetto
Wins at Kansas: 0
Top 5 finishes: 0
Top 10 finishes: 0
This guy has been slowly showing us just how good he really is since NASCAR returned for the 2020 season. He’s one to watch out for as the season enters the second half, but Kansas is not the place where dreams will come true for the No. 21 team.
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